Aveline stood at the entrance of Elder Thorne's room, her heart was beating faster than she expected from the turn of events and what she was warned about. The message had come unexpectedly, summoning her to a late-night meeting. The corridor outside the study was dimly lit. The heavy door creaked as it opened, and Thorne's voice called on her inside.
"Come in, Aveline," he said, with a cool tone.
She stepped into the room with her eyes checking around the room's surroundings. The Shelves were filled with ancient books and relics which loomed over the space. The only source of light was a single lamp on Thorne's desk. His piercing eyes locked onto her as he beckoned on her to sit.
"You summoned me, Elder?" she asked, keeping her voice calm despite the unease twisting in her stomach.
Thorne leaned back in his chair, his fingers joined together. "I have concerns, Aveline. Concerns about Gabriel and his role in all of this."
Her breath caught for a moment. She had expected this topic to arise eventually, but not like this, not in the dead of night, with Thorne's calculating look fixed so sternly on her.
"What concerns?" she asked cautiously.
Thorne leaned forward, his tone soft but firm. "Gabriel's motives. His sudden rise to power in the rival pack. His interest in you. All of it feels too convenient. I believe he's hiding something, something that could jeopardize our pack's safety."
Aveline adjusted herself in her chair, her instincts warning her to tread carefully. "You think Gabriel is plotting against us?"
Thorne's lips brought out a faint smile. "I don't assume. I observe. And my observations tell me there's more to his story than he's showing out."
"What exactly do you want from me?" Aveline asked, though she already suspected the answer.
"I want you to get close to him," Thorne said plainly. "Use your history with him to gain his trust. Find out what he's hiding."
The words struck Aveline like a blow. "You're asking me to spy on him?"
"I'm asking you to protect our pack," Thorne corrected his tone firm. "If Gabriel is working against us, we need to know before it's too late. The alliance hangs by a thread, Aveline. One wrong move could lead to war."
Aveline clenched her fists under the table. The thought of deceiving Gabriel made her stomach hurt. But Thorne wasn't entirely wrong, there were too many unanswered questions about Gabriel's actions, too many mysteries surrounding his leadership of the rival pack.
"And if I refuse?" she asked, with a very low voice close to a whisper.
Thorne's eyes hardened. "Then you risk the lives of everyone in this pack. Including your own."
Aveline left the study with her mind not settled. She entered the courtyard with an unsettled mindset and kept racing within even the cool air outside couldn't help with the emotions brewing within her. She hated the idea of being Thorne's pawn, but the stakes were too high to ignore.
Her loyalty to the pack had been implanted in her since birth. Every decision she made was supposed to be for their greater good. But now, that loyalty was being tested in ways she never anticipated.
As she walked, her memories with Gabriel came as a flash to her mind, the way he had always been her anchor, her haven. The man she knew back then had been kind, selfless, and unwaveringly loyal. Could that same man truly be hiding something so dangerous?
Yet, she still has her doubts. Gabriel had changed. His guarded appearance, his secret warnings, and his sudden rise to power all pointed to secrets he wasn't ready to share.
As Aveline neared her quarters, she heard small voices coming from the corridor she had just left. She froze, instinctively pressing herself against the stone wall to listen.
"Everything is proceeding as planned," Thorne's voice murmured, with a low tone.
Another voice responded one she couldn't place. "And what of Aveline? Do you trust her to follow through?"
"She'll do what's necessary," Thorne said. "Her loyalty to the pack will keep her in line. But soon, it won't matter. The pieces are falling into place. Soon, Gabriel will have no choice."
Shivers went through Aveline's body at the mention of her name. What did he mean? And who was Thorne speaking to?
She stayed at the spot to hear more of the conversation but the voices faded as the people involved moved away. Her heart kept pounding in her chest as she stepped out of the shadows, and her mind remained troubled.
Thorne was playing a game she wasn't sure she fully understood. But one thing was certain, he had his agenda, and Gabriel was at the center of it.
Back in her room, Aveline sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the flame of a candle while She replayed Thorne's words in her head, his demand that she should get closer to Gabriel to uncover his secrets.
Could she do it? Could she betray Gabriel's trust to protect her pack?
Her heart and mind were at war. She couldn't ignore the memories of the man Gabriel had once been—the man who had fought for their pack, who had been willing to sacrifice everything for her. But the Gabriel she saw now was different. He was colder, more distant, and covered in mystery.
And then there was Thorne. The conversation she had overheard confirmed her suspicions that he was hiding something. But what? And why was Gabriel such a central figure in his plans?
Aveline allowed herself to enjoy the cool breeze within then she thought now, She didn't have all the answers, but one thing was certain, if she wanted the truth, she would have to handle things cautiously.
She whispered to herself with a heavy heart, "I'll do it. But on my terms."
The next morning, Aveline met Thorne in the main hall, with his usual expression of being unreadable, but there was a feeling of satisfaction in his eyes when she nodded.
"I'll do it," she said, her voice steady. "But I want to be clear, I'm doing this for the pack, not for you."
Thorne's lips let out a thin smile. "Of course. The pack always comes first."
As Aveline turned to leave, Thorne's voice stopped her. "One more thing, Aveline."
She glanced back, her eyes narrowed to his own.
"Be careful," he said, "Gabriel has a way of overshadowing people's judgment. Don't let him overshadow yours."
Aveline walked away without responding, her resolve hardening with each step. She would find the truth about Gabriel, about Thorne, and about the forces pulling them all into a dangerous game.
But as she moved through the bustling corridors, her mind was busy trying to understand Thorne's parting words from the night before.
"The pieces are falling into place. Soon, Gabriel will have no choice."
What was Thorne planning? And how far was he willing to go to achieve it?
The questions occupied her mind, and Aveline knew one thing for certain, whatever game Thorne was playing, she was now a part of it. And the stakes were higher than ever.